Ferry from Patmos (Skala) to Symi (Gialos)

Patmos to Symi runs down the length of the Dodecanese, from the northern end of the chain to the small island tucked against the Turkish coast near Rhodes. The Dodekanisos Express catamaran makes the quickest work of it at around three and three-quarter hours, while the Blue Star conventional ferries take considerably longer, up to eight hours or so, because they call at Leros, Kalymnos, Kos and other islands on the way. The slower crossing is more of a day at sea than a hop, so it pays to know which vessel you are booked on.

Symi's harbour is the reason most people come. Tiers of pastel neoclassical and Italianate mansions rise straight up the hillsides around the bay, and ferries dock right in the middle of it, so you step off into the town rather than into a transfer queue. Beyond the harbour front there is good seafood, the sponge-diving heritage that made the island wealthy, and the Panormitis Monastery down on the south coast, which is a separate port call on some sailings.

Sailings work out at roughly one a day across a fortnight, with the fast craft and the Blue Star ships covering different days. The current timetable, vessel and fares for your dates are shown in the table below. If nothing suits, most travellers break the journey at Kos or Rhodes and pick up one of the much more frequent short crossings to Symi from there.

Patmos to Symi Ferry Fares

Weekly Patmos to Symi Ferry Schedule

The repeating pattern behind the dated timetable, without dates. Each row is one scheduled departure and the days it runs.

Hiring a car

Do you need a car in Patmos?

Not essential, but useful if you want to reach quieter beaches beyond Chora and Grikos at your own pace. Rental desks sit right at Skala port, and buses from the same stop run to Chora, Grikos and Kambos around six times a day, with taxis filling the gaps. Roads are well maintained and quiet, so driving is easy. Compare suppliers at Discover Cars.

Next 14 days

Every scheduled departure from Patmos to Symi between 24 October 2026 and 6 November 2026.

Frequently Asked Questions

Tips for the Patmos to Symi ferry

• If you are booking for a large group, call the operator or use their group booking form – online booking systems sometimes cap the number of tickets per transaction.
• A wide-brimmed hat provides better sun protection than a baseball cap on the open deck of a moving ferry, where the sun comes from multiple angles.
• If you booked through a third-party agent, you may still need to collect a physical ticket at the port – check your booking confirmation carefully.
• Pack a light layer (cardigan, fleece, or windbreaker) even in summer; the wind and spray on open deck can feel cold on a long crossing.
• In Symi, the neoclassical mansions in shades of ochre, terracotta, and gold rising above the harbour of Gialos form one of the most striking port scenes in the Dodecanese. St Georges Bay on the island's east coast offers some of the best swimming in the area, and the island is a short ferry ride from Rhodes.

Plan a journey

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